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10 Most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview

Sometimes, people make a real hash out of explaining why they can’t attend a job interview. And it is just plain embarrassing. To make sure you don’t make the same mistake, here are the 10 most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview – as revealed by employers.

To make sure you don’t make the same mistake, and following on from our 21 most outrageous sick day excuses article, here are the 10 most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview – as revealed by employers:

Imagine you’re almost there. You created a killer CV, you nailed your telephone interview and now all you have to do is impress your prospective employer in person. But there’s a problem – you can’t make it to your interview. At this stage, panic might set in. But reverting back to what you have probably been told all your life, you’ll be honest about it and upfront with the person who’s going to be interviewing you. And that’s fine – there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to rearrange at no disadvantage to your prospects, if you act professional.

But not everybody is so calm and collected. Sometimes, people make a real hash out of explaining why they can’t attend a job interview. And it is just plain embarrassing.

To make sure you don’t make the same mistake, and following on from our 21 most outrageous sick day excuses article, here are the 10 most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview – as revealed by employers:

1. I can’t attend the interview because of a family emergency…

This excuse is actually quite clever – it isn’t possible for the interviewer to ask any further questions about it to establish the truth. But herein lies the problem. The interviewer can interpret this in any way they like. And without further detail, there’s no credibility to it.

2. The public transport isn’t running…

This can be a legitimate reason for not being able to attend an interview, or for being late to an interview, but only if there’s truth to it. There’s a huge difference between getting up late and missing the bus and a bus service being cancelled due to poor weather. And you can count on the interviewer checking your story for credibility. So be careful.

3. I’ve decided that the job is not for me…

The whole point of a job interview is to establish whether or not the business involved is right for you, not just whether you are right for them. So how can you reasonably establish whether or not a job is right for you, without first giving it a chance?

4. I’ve had a clothing disaster…

Smart and comfortable clothes can increase your confidence significantly and even boost your appeal with prospective employers. But a clothing disaster, such as your pants shrinking in the wash or spilling bleach on your leather shoes, are not reasonable excuses to give for missing an interview.

5. I don’t look very good today…

If you look tired or plain awful on the day of your interview, it’s time to grab a shower, eat something that’ll boost your energy and crack on with the day at hand. Not attending a job interview because you don’t look your best is not very professional, and actually giving this as an excuse for not attending is even worse. If you do, don’t expect a call back.

6. I’ve come into some money so I don’t need a job now…

Oh, good for you. Next!

7. I have food poisoning…

Employers understand that food poising is relatively common among the population, but when they hear this excuse from 1 in 5 candidates, something is obviously fishy. So even if you do have food poisoning, it’s best to try something else – preferably something that’s contagious, like the flu or the common cold.

8. I forgot that I had prior commitments…

This excuse is actually okay, so long as it is given well in advance of the interview. It gets farcical when it is given as an excuse for not attending at all, and downright ridiculous when it is given after standing up the interviewer.

9. My Google Maps app/ satellite navigation couldn’t find you…

This excuse stinks of disorganisation and an unhealthy reliance on technology. What ever happened to good old intuition or using a printer to print off a map? And god forbid you should ask somebody for directions or make a quick call to the company in question.

10. I forgot that I had an interview today…

This is a very common excuse given for not attending a job interview, and it’s also one of the worst you can give. Because not only does it show a lack of organisation, but it also shows just how little you care about the job in question. And that’s not something the interviewer wants to see. So don’t expect a second chance if you give this excuse.

So there they are. The 10 most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview. If you have given any of these before, feel free to wince at your own incompetence. And if you haven’t, take note, because a good excuse could just land you a second chance.

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10 Most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview

Sometimes, people make a real hash out of explaining why they can’t attend a job interview. And it is just plain embarrassing. To make sure you don’t make the same mistake, here are the 10 most farcical reasons for not attending a job interview – as revealed by employers.